DENVER, Auraria, Campus — Research has shown that most college students do not meet the recommended intake on certain foods, they need to eat in order to stay healthy. Eating healthy is associated with improving cognitive function (specially memory) as well as having a good mood.

But what does “eating healthy” really mean?

Having three meals a day that incorporates the six food groups which are: grains, vegetables, fruits, oils and fats, dairy and meats, beans, fish and poultry. As well as having eight glasses of water a day.

“I would describe the typical college students diet as “convenient” or “fast” if you will,” says nutrition professor Donna P. Washington. “A diet that is quick, convenient, easy and packed with carbohydrates and fats.”

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE: Fast-food restaurants are quick, convenient, easy, but unhealthy. [Photo by Melanie J. Rice mrice20@msudenver.edu]

The Auraria campus food court contains Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Subway and other fast-food restaurants. Auraria also has vending machines that serve soda, coffee, chips, cookies, candy, ice cream and Minnie lunches. Nutritionist agree, that all these goodies are not very healthy.

All the drinks and snacks consist of high sugars, high calories, caffeine, and different amounts of fat. All these foods and drinks can give you energy or help you stay awake, but only for a few hours before you feel the crash.

Students already know that what their buying isn’t healthy, but some don’t have time to prepare a healthy dinner at home, and most, like getting their food quick and fast, that’s why they keep buying these fast foods.

Now not every college student eats unhealthy, some do try to eat healthy. That is by substituting little snacks with maybe fruits or even vegetables.

“While doing homework I usually snack on a banana or other fruits,” says Auraria student Elizabeth Mehert.

On the other hand, Matt Jonseof, another student says, ” I usually eat a lot of fast food McDonald’s, Taco Bell, or something easy and cheap like Ramen Noodles.”

Does it really matter what they eat at the end?

How does that affect with their learning and behavior?

Lives Strong, an online website says, that eating healthy and exercising is very good for your brain, “you can enhance your brain’s ability to learn and remember.”

LIMITED TIME: Students know that fast-food isn’t healthy, but many don’t have time to prepare a healthy dinner at home. [Photo by Melanie J. Rice mrice20@msudenver.edu]

Exercising alone can get your brain started and ready to go. But in order for this to happen one of the most important meals is breakfast it is the first meal of the day and it is also one of the most important ones when it comes to meals.

A good balance breakfast helps you stay awake and alert and helps give a great jump start to the rest of the day. But not every student starts their day of right.

“I never eat breakfast it makes my stomach hurt and I’m not used to it,” says CCD student Vanessa Madera. Vanessa isn’t the only student who skips breakfast most students do. Researchers have been saying for years that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but all the rest of the meals are important as well. Students everyday diet should all incorporate some healthy nutrients, it can help increase the school performance overall. Diet plans do have a correlation with learning.

“There is definitely a correlation to diet with performance,” Washington says. “A poor diet reflects in poor performance, a diet that is balanced and varied in its nutrient content provides better usable energy sources yielding to better performance.”